How do you do a breast self-exam with implants?
The goal shifts from finding lumps alone to knowing your own baseline — implant edges included.
With an implant in place, a self-exam has two jobs: watching the breast tissue itself and noticing changes around the device, such as new firmness, shape shifts, or swelling that arrives on one side only.
A monthly routine that works
Pick a fixed day each month, check in the mirror for contour or skin changes, then palpate lying down with flat fingers in overlapping circles, learning where the implant edge normally sits so new findings stand out.
Breast texture and implant feel differ widely between individuals, so treat the self-exam as a habit that raises questions, not one that answers them — anything unfamiliar deserves a clinic visit and a specialist opinion.
MediIndex articles are for general information only and are not medical advice, diagnosis, or advertising. Outcomes vary by individual — consult a board-certified specialist for personal decisions.